Question: What is one piece of personal branding advice you'd give someone who wants to work for a startup?
Establish a High Value Personal Brand
"Regardless of where you are working at any given time, your personal brand will always stay with you. Invest the time and capital into your personal branding website, your social media and your visual content to project the highest value image possible. Investing in good photography is really important."
@rlorenzen
Develop a Representative Digital Persona
"Startups are environments that require team members to absolutely love each other. One easy way for an employer to get to know the real you is by viewing your personal and professional blogs, social media accounts and websites. A passion for badminton and rock climbing can get you a ton of points because you'll be someone fun to have on the team."
@firaskittaneh
Go the Extra Mile
"In a startup, things can be hectic and hours can be long. Companies want to hire employees who can roll with the punches and are willing to go above and beyond. Brand yourself as someone who cares about not only the opportunity, but also equity. Founders want a team that is motivated by the long-term success of the company, and an equity focus speaks volumes about where your motivation lies. "
@JohnGTabis
Be a Character Rather Than a Resume
"Startups hire characters rather than positions, so applicants who are too focused on the position itself (title, job duties) and their own experience, rather than on the impact they can make, are going to bring up red flags. Experience is great, but grit and passion are timeless traits that are desirable to startup hiring managers. Show your true colors and "let your freak flag fly,” as they say."
@seanpk
Write Articles
"If you want to work for a startup, show them that you're an expert in whatever industry you want to work in. Write articles for your personal blog, or on external publications. Especially if you're looking to land a marketing or sales role, showing that you can create a community around your content is extremely attractive to startups."
@Kelsey_M_Meyer
Get Personal
"Startup culture favors personality, whereas larger screening efforts can exclude it. Don’t be afraid to showcase who you are beyond just accomplishments and test scores."
@SpiralStair
Showcase Your Expertise
"Personal branding is very important but nobody likes someone who is overly promotional or too confident. Showcase your expertise and help others; your actions will help build a personal following worth having."
@stanleymeytin
Generate Content
"Invest time in generating content on different platforms; whether it's tweeting, blogging, guest posting or posting slides. Make sure you're engaging with people and sharing useful information. The more you do that, the more valuable your brand will be -- making you a good fit to work at a startup."
@benln
Illustrate Your Previous Work
"Startups are looking for professionals who can execute and make a difference. While building your personal brand, be sure to clearly tell narratives or illustrate what you have done or can do. There is a premium for doers, and the best thing you can do is quickly show a prospective company that you will drive results rather than simply fill a role."
@apthomas
